Connecting device for electric conductors.



P. F. WILLIAMS.

CONNECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

APPLICATION FILED mac. n. 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented May 8, 1917.

P. F. WlLLIAMS.

CONNECUNG DEVICE ?OH ELECTRIS CONDUCTORS.

APPUCAHON HLED DEC. 11, 1911.

1325,3008 Patented May 8, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. F. WILLIAMS.

CONNECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. II, 191 I. 1,225,300. Patented May 8,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I M139 i i i UNITED To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, PAUL F. il uminate, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cool: and Stat of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Connecting ices for Electric Conductors, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in p otheads, and has as its principal object the improven'ient of the design of cable potheads, particular reference being bad to the inlet and outlet structures. A. furhcr object is to provide an improved form the body of the pothead. I

Further objects reside in the particular con'ibination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, l igure 1 is a front elevational view partly in section, showing my improved pothcad as designed for a three conductor cable;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the cover removed Fig. 3 is a front elevational view' partly in section of my improved pothead, also for a three conductor cable, one outlet bein onlitted, but illustrating a different form or outlet structure at the point where the conductors leave the pothead;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the outlet structure shown in cross section in Fig. 3, lbeing also in cross section and illustrating the method of operating this outlet structure;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of my improved form of pothead as designed for a single conductor cable, the body of the pothead being provided with certain modifications which obviously might be employed in. the form shown in F 1 and 3, desired;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view of Fig. 1, taken on the line (lil, and illustrates my improved form of inlet structure and a modification of the lower part of the pothead to accommodate the same;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on lines 7-7 in Fig. '6, further illustrating the im- Patent-ed May 8, 1917. Serial H0. 664,916.

proved inlet structure and its relation to the body of the pothead.

Throughout the various views the same part is indicated by the same reference character. 7 rteierring more particularly to the drawings, 1 the body of my three conductor type of pothead, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, preferably made of cast iron. 2 is a reinovablecover mounted on the body 1, and provided with bolts 3 carrying nuts 4:, wnichengage with lugs 5 on the body 1 in order to clamp the cover and body closely together.' The body 1 is cylindrical in its 7 upper portion, as is obvious from Fig. 2, and below the cylindrical portion is a downwardly contracting conical portion 6, provided with apertures through which the conductors leave the pothead. Depending from the portion (5 is a second conical portion '7 having however a more gradual taper. The lower end of portion 7 has a central aperture for the admission of the cable. The iiulividual conductors of the cable are'75 spread within the pothead and led out through the apertures in the portion 6, their arrangement and appearance being clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Surrounding each of the apertu es in the portion 6 on the:out side of the pothead is a flange 8. Passing through each aperture and guided by the wall of the pothead and the flange 8 1s a perforated insulating bushing 9 having at its outer end a cup or bell shaped portion 10. The inner end of the bushing 9 projects within the pothead as illustrated clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. lVithin the bushing 9 is a conducting sleeve 11 provided at its inner end with a socket 12 for receiving the end of the cable conductor as 13. The sleeve 11 is provided with an exterior ridge 14, which guides it in the bushing E) and helps retain it in proper p sition. At the inner end of the bushing 9 are screw sockets for retaining screws 15 which bind the sleeve 11 to the bushing 9 and retain the sleeve in proper position. The bushing 9 and the flange 8 are provided with registering grooves as '16 tor receiving cement or grout for retaining the bushing in position. Screws not shown may also be used if de- 4 form shown in I 1g. 1. is identical with that shown in Fig. 3. It is obvious, however,

that applicant provides means for connect- Ingand disconnecting the exterior conductor to the conductor within the pothead, and these devices are not alike except in the sleeve 11. As appears in Fig. 1. sleeve 11 has an outer socket 11' which is adapted to receive a spring plug lb which is supported on a conducting element 19. Element It) is provided with a screw threaded inner portion'a'nd carries thereon a tapering piece 20. Surrounding the piece 20 is a conducting sleeve .21. which has a bore fitting that of the piece'2t). and is provided at its outer end with screw threads adapted to engage the mating threads on the outer end of the sleeve II. Sleeve it is provided with lugs .22 which rest in sockets in the insulating sleeve 23. Thus when 223 is turned the conducting sleeve .21 is turned with it, either to draw' the member 20 and its connected plug 18 into close contact witli'the sleeve 11, or else to release the two parts so that the exterior conductormay be withdrawn from connection with the cable conductor. The element It is surrounded by an insulating member .24. l! is also provided with a socket for receiving the exterior conductor.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, I provide in this case also the socket member 1! having a socket for connecting with the. exterior conductor, and also having a plug member attached to its inner end. .\s shown more clearly in Fig. I this plug member 25 is connected to member 19 by means of screw threads. and at its inner end is provided with a groove it; which is adapted to cooperate with a projecting pin 27 on the inner surface of the sleeve ll. thus .t'orming a bayonet connection. It. will be apparent that an insulating piece 2H is provided covering the member 1! The piece 28 corresponds in some measure to the element it in Fig. 1. but is of somewhat ditl'erent shape and at its inner end is so 't'ormed as to tit closely against the flaring end of the member It). In Fig. 3) there is no membcr correspoluling to element i l of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to Figs. t3 and T, l have shown therein my improved arrangement. for introducing the cable-into the pothead. .\s appears in these tigurcs 29 is the lead sheath of the cable which is surrounded by a threaded plug or closure IlO, which contains a cone shaped gasket ot' suit able n'iaterial. .\s shown. the plug 230 ispro vided with screw threadsbotli on its inner and outer surfaces. the outer series of screw threads engaging a correspoiuling thread on the inner surface of the lower wall 7 of the The ring 33 together-with the upstanding parallel posts 34 and the upper ring 35.

which are all cast integrally with each other form a spider for clamping and supporting the inner end of the cable sheath as shown at 29'. 'Ihe inner end of the cable sheath is belled out and fitted over the upper ring 35. A detachable ring 36 is then clamped down on the end of the cable sheath by means of screws 37 holding the sheath rigidly in place. The wall 7 inclines outwardly from the plug-30 while the upper rings 33 and 36 are of the same outer (hameter as. the lower ring 33. Consequently there is a space between the wall 7 and the upper rings 35, 3t and the end of the cable sheath. In practice the interior of the pothead is tilled with insulatin oil or compound aml with the improvct design which I have illustrated the compound falls down into the lower end of the pothead c01npletely surroumling the inner edge of the cable sheath and extending some distance below it, thus effectually preventin the access of moisture to the interior insu ation of the cable. V

In rig. ii. I have shown a pothead body, which if desired may also be used'in the mmlifications shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In Fig. 5 the lower part of the pothead 40 is made of porcelain. Attached to the upper part of the porcelain is a cast iron piece 41 havin a removable cover 42. also of cast iron. 2 lhe part -11 is provided with an outstanding tlange 43. surrounding an aperture adapted to receive outlet devices similar to those shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Owing to the small space in the form shown in Fig. 5 and the consequent sharp angle upon which the conductor would need to be bent. I provide a casting 46 which has a central aperture for receiving thee-able conductor and a shank or arm 47 adapted to connect with the sleeve 11.

It will be obvious that the inlet structure shown in Figs. 6 and T might be used in the form shown in Fig. 5 if so desired. but as the form of Fig. 5 is tor a single conductor cable. in-practice this would probably not be desirable or necessary. and it has not'been so shown. It will be obvious also that the outlet devices of the form shown 'in Fig. I might also be used 'in Fig. I, The forms shown in Figs. 1. 2 and II are provided with bosses ll. by which the pothead may bipropcrly supported. Similar lugs or bosses may be placed on the. form shown in Fig. .3 it so desired. but owing to the lighter weight of the form of Fig. 5 this might not be necessary.

All the forms of my device shown are designed to hate insulating compound poured into them after the connections are made. Such compound is shown in place in Figs. 1,3, 5 and 6.

Having thus described my what I claim is:

1. A pothead comprising;- in combination, a casing having an aperture, a ert'orated w closure for said aperture, said closure being provided with threads whereby the same is secured to the casing, said closure being adapted to receive a cable and having a tapering cut-away portion largest at its inner 5 end, and ring adapted to fit into the inner end of said tapering cut-away portion, said ring and closui-e being provided with threads whereby the same are secured together.

2. A pothead comprising in combii ation, a casing having an aperture, a gerforated closure for said aperture, said closure having the outer end, portion of its bore of substantially the samesize as a cable sheath, and having the inner end portion of its bore larger than a cable sheath, and a having a screw-threaded connection With the inner end of said closure, said ring being adapted to fit within the enlarged bore of said closure and also adapted to fit closely g upon said cab invention,

re slieatln surrounding said cable sheath, posts c on said ring and supporting a seco' ing above said named and a third ring;

detachably secured to saidsccond o 15o A pothead comprising in a cash having an aperture, a per. closurv io said aperture, said closure adapt to receive cabv she: tli, and holding means "bin the ca for en r the cable sheath at a pl: r

e of engas'ement L; 11118 combination with casing having an aperture of a perforate closure for said aperture, closure bovin z aperture so for a cable sheath, and hoidii means within tho casing for engaging the turner back end of the cable sheath, said he}, ans comirising? rs i h sides of .ll e cable sheath said closu e.

(3. A potbead comprising in. combination, a casingliaving an outlet aperture, a tube or bushing its outer end mounted in said aperture, a conducting socket member mounted Within said bushing, an insulating member carrying a conductingplugfor coni'iection with said steer o ring surrounding some said second mentioned insulating member inclosing the first mentioned insulating member and in turn being inclosed by the fiaring end of said bushing.

7. in a pothead the combination of a casing having an aperture, a closure for said aperture havingan o )enin ads ted to receive casing having an aperture, of a closure for said casing; havin a perforation fora cable a ring carried by said closure and provided with members extending longitudinally of the cable, and a pair of clamping rings carried by said longitudinally extending members, said clamping rings being adapted to engage and clamp between them the outwardly extending edge of the cable i). in a pothcad, the combination of a cashaving an outlet aperture, a tubular b shine; for said aperture, said bushing having a flaring outer end, metallic connecting devices in said bushing, and a rotatable insulating iember for the outer end or" said connecting devices, said member being covered by said flaring; end of said bushing and arranged to operate said connecting devices its rotation. 1

1.0, fi pothcad, the combination With no car t r g of a downwardly facing aperture, a downwardly extending bushing fitted to said aperture and having a flaring outer end, and connecting devices and insulating member therefor, one of said connecting devices being rotatable with respect to the ther and sl ielded by said flaring end and being; connected for operation by one of said insulating m mber 11'. in a pothead, the combination of a casing having a downwardly extending out let erture, a bushing extended through aperture and having a flaring outer metallic connecting devices for connecting conductors with one another, said part in connecting devices being located in said bushing and insulating means for covering the lower end portion of said connecting devices, said covering means being pro-- tec'tedby the-flaring end of said bushing.

12. in a pothead, the combination of a casing provided ivith a downwardly extending outlet aperture, an insulating bushing en tendcd through said aperture and having a flaring outer end, metallic connecting devices located in part Within said bushing and in projecting from the lower end of the 'located below and being protected by said bushing and its flaring end.

13. In a pothead the combination with the casing, of a downwardly facing aperture, a downwardly extending bushing fitted to said aperture and having a flaring outer end, a

socket member mounted in said bushing, a

member carrying a plug, a rotatable member connecting the plug and the socket, said member .having a portion which extends into the flared portion of the bushing, and the member which carries the plug having a portion which extends into the rotatable member. v

14. Inapothead, the combination of a casing having a downwardly extending outlet aperture, an insulating, bushing extending through said, aperture, metallic c'onhecting devices located'iri part within said bushing and in part-projecting irom the lower end of the same, and means for protecting and insulating the aforesaid projecting end portion of saidconnecting de- 15. In a *pothead the combination of a casing having a downwardly opening aperture, an insulating bushing extending through said aperture, metallic connecting devices located in part within said bushing and having their lower end portions projecting from the same, said connecting devices being adapted for the connection and disconnection of conductors and constructed for such operation by a relative rotary movement, a rotary insulating member outside of the aforesaid projecting portion of said connecting devices, said member engaging said devices so as to operate the same by its rotary movement, and means for covering and protecting said rotary insulating member. V

16. I11 :1 pothead the combination with a casing of a downwardly extending bushing havinga flaringouter end, a member having a portion extending toward the flared portion of Saidbushing, contact making elements carried by said bushing and said member, a member positioned between said downyardly extending bushing and said firstmentioned member, said member having a portion projecting into the flared portion of said bushing and being recessed at its opposite end to receive the end of the first mentioned member which projects toward the flared end of said bushing.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name tlllS 8th day of November A. D. 1911.

' PAUL F. WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

i A. L. Jones,

A. S. DENNISON. 

